25 Episodes In: Silver Chains, Multiverses & Stranded Grads

In our 25th episode milestone, Alex and Adriana kick things off with silver anniversary banter, joking about jewelry, rising costs, and whether a silver chain is in Alex’s future. From there, the conversation wanders into recent watches, with a spoiler-light rave review of Wednesday Season 2 (Part 1), the agelessness of Jenna Ortega and Christina Ricci, and the nostalgia of seeing familiar actors return in new projects like Freaky Friday 2.

That flows naturally into a spirited dive on superhero franchises and the confusing world of multiverses. From Batman casting swaps to Spider-Man crossovers and the Flash’s time travel, Adriana admits to being skeptical of the endless spin-offs, while Alex explains how the multiverse device has become Hollywood’s excuse (and marketing trick) for mixing generations of actors and storylines. Nostalgia proves to be the throughline, with nods to Tobey Maguire, Jack Nicholson’s Joker, and Robert Pattinson’s moody take on the Dark Knight.

The ramble then takes a retro turn, sparked by a Queen rabbit hole on YouTube. Adriana recounts Gen Z reacting in awe to Freddie Mercury’s Live Aid performance - marveling at the lack of phones in the audience - while Alex chimes in on how 1980s culture still resonates today. That nostalgia snowballs into a look back at Game Boys, Pokémon games driving new handheld systems, and what it was like growing up with Nintendo’s golden years.

The conversation pivots into the practical with updates on family tech adventures - Adriana helping her parents adjust to a MacBook Air, larger monitor, and digital finances, while Alex checks accounts multiple times a week to ward off fraud. From biweekly vs. monthly paychecks to budgeting quirks, the pair compare money habits and share laughs over balancing checkbooks and payday illusions.

Then comes the centerpiece discussion: the current job climate for recent college graduates. Inspired by headlines and social media stories, Alex and Adriana ask hard questions about whether the problem lies in the job market itself or in how graduates are applying. They cover the myths of guaranteed jobs after college, the reality of “entry-level” roles asking for years of experience, and the importance of networking, internships, and resumes tailored with relevant keywords. They reflect on how institutions sometimes set false expectations, and how the value of a degree feels diminished when real-world opportunities don’t match the promise.

The episode wraps with meta-podcaster talk on filler words, eye contact in conversation, and Zoom culture - from cameras-off multitasking to how speaking habits shift between in-person and remote settings. Finally, Alex and Adriana circle back, inviting listeners to weigh in: Are recent grads really stranded, or are both sides - institutions and individuals - missing the mark?